PAIR OF ITALIAN BRONZE FIGURES OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND THE BELOVED DISCIPLE EARLY 17TH CENTURY with brown/black patina, on oval bases (26.5cm and 26cm high) Qty: (2) Footnote: Provenance: The Earls of Crawford and Balcarres, Balcarres House, Fife, Scotland Note: Originally part of a Crucifixion tableau, these bronze figures were most likely made in the early part of the 17th century. With their mournful expressions and upturned faces, they would have stood either side of Christ on the cross. The elongated bodies and limbs, small heads, and curvilinear postures, particularly demonstrated by the disciple figure, indicate a Mannerist influence of the late Renaissance. The male figure is typically identified as Saint John, although this attribution has been debated. In the St. John's Gospel account he is mentioned six times but named simply as "the disciple whom Jesus loved'. Their presence played the important devotional role allowing the viewer to bridge the gap between human sorrow and divine suffering.